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Build Your 4x4 Truck for the Snow - Unstoppable SnowmenTake On Winter With These Snow Wheeling Build Tips From the July, 2008 issue of 4Wheel & Off-Road By Fred Williams Photography by Fred Williams
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There is no reason why your wheeling needs to stop just because the summer months are gone and Old Man Winter is blowing. Snow wheeling is a great way to fight cabin fever, and building your truck for the snow is no more complicated than building it for mud or rocks. In fact you might encounter both mud and rocks in the midst of all that white stuff. One thing to realize, though, is that snow wheeling shouldn't be taken lightly. Many people get stranded just driving down snowy roads when the drifts grow deep. Being lost out in the boonies with a stuck or broken truck can quickly turn from bad to worse. Plus thick snow can hide rocks, stumps, and deep crevasses that can tear up your 4x4 quick if you hit them too hard. When the temps drop you need to remember not just the normal 4x4 repair equipment, but added survival items like food, maps, clothing, and communication equipment. And remember that snow is just frozen water, which when melted can get you very wet, only adding to the danger of the cold. All that considered, snow wheeling is still an awesome time, as busting through fresh drifts and exploring virgin white trails can be both challenging and exhilarating.  Much like in the sand, airing...  Much like in the sand, airing down is important when snow wheeling. Getting the largest area of traction can take you farther into the winter wonderland and bring you back safely. In fact, the massive 44-plus-size tires the Canadians were running were all bead locked and down in the single digit pressures.  There are different types...  There are different types of snow; some like marbles and some like talcum powder, thus tires that will work in some places don't work in others. That being said, the majority of snow wheelers seem to be running a tall and wide tire to spread the load onto a larger surface of snow. Also snow that is held by the tires actually helps grab onto the new snow and propel the truck forward, thus grooving tires or running all-terrain tires that hold the snow in the tread seems to work well when winter wheeling.  If your engine doesn't have...  If your engine doesn't have tons of torque, then you need to make up for it with gearing. The Canadians were running manual transmissions with low First gears so they don't need to worry about the overheating of an automatic when working to push through the snow. The manual also allows you to start in a higher gear if you need to gently get the truck moving on top of the soft powder, and a compression brake to ease yourself down in speed during icy situations. However, ultralow 100:1 rockcrawling gearing is overkill; a 2.72 or 3:1 low range is usually sufficient.  If you do get stranded in...  If you do get stranded in the snow it's best to run the vehicle periodically to keep it warm, but make sure the exhaust has a clear escape route and doesn't filter back into the truck. Getting stuck is a bummer, but asphyxiation in the driver seat while taking a little nap turns a mistake into a fatality.  A selectable locker is often...  A selectable locker is often a plus when sidehilling on slick or icy trails, but while on the flat ground with lots of tire tread getting traction, any locker, limited slip, or open differential will work. Oddly enough, many of these big Canadian 4x4s were using open differentials, but they are almost exclusively used in the white winter months.  Even though a light footprint...  Even though a light footprint is important when snow wheeling, so is being well prepared. This vehicle had a chainsaw, a vise, a shovel, and many other tools and supplies. It may seem excessive to some, but sometimes survival means digging a well-insulated snow cave or cutting up firewood rather than hiking out 20 miles in waist-deep snow-or worse, a white-out blizzard.  A strong drivetrain is important...  A strong drivetrain is important along with a healthy motor built for torque and some sort of soft or hard top, but when it comes down to it, don't forget your heater. We found this small Mojave heater from Flex-a-lite that should fit just about any project you are building. Plus you could look into the heated snowmobile suits that many sledders wear if you're wheeling a buggy or open-topped Jeep.  One of the first considerations...  One of the first considerations in snow is your engine. The guys up in Canada were running massive big-blocks such as this torque-monster 632. The trick is finding a lot of torque without adding too much weight. Torque allows you to keep turning big wide tires, but you need light weight to help float over the snow on those big tires. Believe it or not one major issue in the snow is overheating. The engines are often working very hard, yet the vehicles may be moving very slowly, so having a quality fan and fan shroud is important.  Speaking of plowing, believe...  Speaking of plowing, believe it or not an independent front suspension just may be a better setup for snow than a solid axle. Most independent suspensions have slightly more front ground clearance and a lighter unsprung mass, both of which help in the snow. With either independent or solid axle, leaving the sway bar connected seems to help even out the pressure to all tires. The guys from the great white north are building vehicles with custom fully independent suspensions using ex-military Gama Goat components. For more info check out Creative Motorsports.  Snow wheeling in single file...  Snow wheeling in single file with your buddies is the smartest way to go. That way the taxing job of breaking new tracks can be swapped between vehicles and drivers, and as more vehicles proceed it will be easier for the folks in the back to follow, especially if you are all trying to get back home on a cold snowy night. Snow wheeling by yourself should be avoided unless you are a real grizzly man with polar-bear blood in your veins and the ability to survive alone in the arctic tundra.  Being ready for a recovery...  Being ready for a recovery is also a great idea when snow wheeling. Say you or one of your buddies breaks through a stream or pond that was hidden under the snow, or maybe a hidden ditch sends a rig on its side and precious fuel is leaking out. We saw this easy-access recovery-strap cubby mounted to the front fender side and realized how brilliant it is since we've seen way too many folks in a rollover or tippy situation waste time digging under the tool bag or back seat for their recovery strap. One that's easy to reach and secure, yet ready to use, can be a life saver. A winch is another required accessory for backcountry snow wheeling.  Another important reminder...  Another important reminder is to bring lots of extra food. When winter wheeling we usually gain 5 pounds because of all the eating, but it's important to stock up in case you are stuck out there for a bit. And keep in mind that stopping to eat is a great time for your engine to cool down if it's getting hot from plowing down a snowed trail. Bring a large Thermos of hot chocolate, tea, or coffee to help warm you up, and if you've never cooked any food on your intake manifold then you haven't truly been four-wheeling. The Canadians are connoisseurs of engine-oven delights, everything from pastas to stews and a good old burrito wrapped in foil and warmed on your engine (arrow) will keep you alive if need be.
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